Off-Label Promotion and Product Liability
January 31, 2016
The pharmaceutical industry has recently felt empowered by one final court decision and another pending case that would seemingly allow companies to distribute, proactively, information about off-label uses. However, there is no indication that, because firms may now be allowed certain latitude in one area, they are immune from product liability exposure.
Electronic Cigarettes
January 31, 2016
While e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors promote the potential advances of this new technology over traditional cigarettes, the degree to which e-cigarettes are safe is the topic of great debate, and the source of litigation.
'Gig Economy' Guarantees
January 31, 2016
Much has been written lately about this recent business concept that appears to be changing the way people work, and the nature of traditional jobs. Some of these companies have already become familiar household names ' Uber, Lyft, Airbnb and TaskRabbit ' and new companies that embrace this business model continue to emerge.
Case Notes
January 31, 2016
Analysis of a GM trial in which "Similar Incident" evidence was permitted.
The Yates Memo, Corporate Cooperation and Attorney-Client Privilege
January 31, 2016
Last year, DOJ Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates issued "Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing" (the "Yates Memo"). It announced the DOJ's corporate cooperation policy requiring disclosure of "all relevant facts about individual[s]" before the DOJ will consider awarding the company any credit for cooperation. Does this change corporate privilege?
The NLRB's 'Joint Employer' Thrust Defies 50 Years of Judicial Precedent
January 31, 2016
In this article, I analyze how the NLRB general counsel's approach is refuted by 50 years of virtually unanimous judicial decisions, and address a recent NLRB decision greatly expanding who may be deemed a "joint employer" (and how this decision discarded 30 years of NLRB precedent). I also discuss the harsh consequences that may pertain should the NLRB general counsel succeed in his efforts to have franchisors declared the "joint employers" of their franchisees' employees.
Insurance Limited Partnerships As an Alternate Estate Planning Tool
January 31, 2016
Valuation discounts in estate planning has permitted the transfer of assets from one generation to another in an economically efficient manner. Two of the various discount methods claim lack of control (minority interest discount) and lack of marketability. The IRS has traditionally objected to these approaches in intra-family transfers, while Congress has attempted to legislate away these "loopholes" unsuccessfully and the Treasury Department is contemplating new regulations to accomplish this goal.
Prioritizing e-Mail Security in the Legal Sector
January 31, 2016
Data breaches and cyberattacks aren't new occurrences, but it can sometimes feel like they are. It's only in the last few years that we've seen these attacks make headlines more and more, increasing in both quantity and impact.
